Materials characterization and metallurgical testing laboratory

EWI’s metallurgical labs are stocked with state-of-the-art of equipment that allows us to help you with materials selection, characterization, component and process design, qualification, failure analysis, and many other services.

EWI’s materials characterization facilities include a state-of-the-art scanning electron microscope (Zeiss EVO 60) with EDS capability. The equipment has a resolution limit of 3 nm and also can be operated at Extra variable pressure mode (XVP®). This means that the equipment is capable for conducting, e.g, corrosion experiments in different atmospheres. The microscope has an extra-large chamber, suitable for characterizing welds in large parts.

EWI also has access to the campus electron optics facility (CEOF, http://www.ceof.ohio-state.edu/) at The Ohio State University. The facility is one of the best in the country for materials characterization, consisting of 4 transmission electron microscopes (including Titan, the worlds highest resolution commercial TEM), 3 scanning electron microscopes including 2 SEMs with electron backscatterd diffraction capability, two dual beam focused ion beam systems, 4 X ray diffraction systems and several equipment for sample preparation.

Solutions of materials and materials joining-related problems typically involve a combination of characterization techniques that can range from optical microscopy to high-resolution, analytical electron microscopy. Availability of various materials characterization techniques on the same campus combined with our staff’s expertise in welding metallurgy, materials science and materials characterization makes EWI an excellent resource for your materials joining solutions.

Specimen Preparation

• Automatic grinding and polishing equipment
• Abrasive cut-off wheels
• Epoxy and cold mount
• Large section specimen (up to 9 in.) metallographic preparation
• Acid and electrolytic polishing/etching techniques
• Specialized sectioning capability
• Etching techniques for most common materials
• Removal of rust and scale prior to failure analysis
  

Microstructural Analysis

• Optical microscopes: magnification up to 2000x with oil immersion
• Scanning Electron Microscope
  

Image Analysis

• Micro- and macro-digital photographic capability
• Quantitative image analysis for:
  • Area fraction
  • Feature measurement
  • Modularity
  • Grain size
  • Size distribution
  • Inclusion rating
  • Crack length
• Software-based weld profile measurement Conventional & digital macrophotograph capability
  

Materials Testing

• Hardness testing (Rockwell A, B, C)
• Microhardness testing (Vickers, Knoop)
• Magne-gage for ferrite measurement